Anaheim Ducks: Matt Beleskey helps spark rally

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Lower on the depth charts, down on the last line for the Anaheim Ducks, lied a key to their victory in last night’s thrilling come-from-behind victory against the Vancouver Canucks.

What Matt Beleskey can bring to a team is often overlooked but it is never undervalued. The energy from a fourth liner can spark rallies, goals and even win games.  The ‘spark’ doesn’t always show up on the score sheet, as was the case in last night’s game.

Beleskey’s goal was icing on the cake and was the game tying goal but it was his presence at the end of the first period that was the game’s true turnaround.

The Ducks found themselves down 2-0, and being outshot by the wide margin of 12-5 the period ended with a post whistle scuffle that featured among others, Beleskey.

We saw the usual pushing and shoving, name calling and trash talking but that moment right there was the most life the Ducks had exhibited at that point in the game.

What happened from that point? The Ducks outscored the Canucks 3-1, and outshot them by an even wider margin – 40-to-7 – completely controlling the action from that point forward.

Beleskey had an amazing game last night, and despite Corey Perry will walk away with all of the headlines and highlights, it was obvious what the turning point of that game was and who was the player that sparked it.

Come playoff time, moments like that will be magnified but in the meantime, sparking a rally like that to keep the Ducks record without a regulation loss at home will suffice.

Anthony Murphy is the Editor at Pucks of a Feather. You can reach him by email amurphy540@pullinamurph.com or follow him on Twitter @AMurphyTFC.